One of
the boldest albums we've heard from trumpeter Wadada Leo Smith in years – a set
that takes us right back to his key contributions of the 70s! The recent
performance has Smith's trumpet in the company of an Italian quartet – with
tenor and sopranino sax from Edoardo Marraffa, piano from Alberto Braida, bass
from Antonio Borghini, and drums from Fabrizio Spera – all players who are
never entirely free, and instead have the cohesion of some of the best New York
groups from the loft jazz years – right drown to the overall conception of each
track, and even the way the material was recorded. Smith sounds brilliant in
the setting – still attuned to the textural experiments that have made other
recent records great, but playing with a power that's definitely old school,
and wonderfully soulful too. Titles include "Red Earth", "The
Zebra Goes Wild", "Decision Says The Source", "Full
Moon", and "Above The Tree Line". (Hand numbered, limited
edition of 500!) ~ Dusty Groove

THEO
PARRISH – AMERICAN INTELLIGENCE

The
first proper album from Detroit club genius Theo Parrish in years – a set that
has Theo working way at the top of his game – doing conscious club music, but
imbued with a compelling mood and artful quality, all while never undercutting
the floor-shaking rhythmic sensibility of the music! There's relatively spare
quality to much of the set that makes it all the more interesting – not a
single misplaced beat, note, or bit of vocal to be found – and even the longest
jams are perfectly lean, but really have a way of keeping things changing up in
this really great way. As longtime fans of Theo Parrish, we find it pretty damn
rewarding that he continues his creative reign a good couple of decades into
his career. 3LP vinyl version features 9 classic level numbers, with no more
than 2 jams on per side: "Footwork", "Cypher Delight",
"Ah" feat Marcellus Pittman, Ideeyah & Duminie Deporres,
"Make No War", "Creepcake", "Drive", "Fallen
Funk", "Be In Yo Self" feat Ideeyah & Duminie Deporres and
"Helmut Lampshade". (Comes in a great tri-fold sleeve, too!) ~ Dusty Groove

JOHN GIBBS AND THE UNLIMITED SOUNDS OF STEEL ORCHESTRA - STEEL FUNK

One of
the coolest, funkiest steel drum albums ever recorded – a really legendary set
that played big on the New York club scene of the late 70s – and which has been
the delight of collectors for years to come! Other steel pan bands in the
Caribbean played funky styles in the 70s, but few ever got the music just as
right as John Gibbs – a man with a great ear for fresh sounds borrowed from the
disco underground of the time, then mixed with island elements that had a bit
more background – with resulting grooves that still stand strong all these many
years later! The whole album's a gem – no snoozy versions of "Yellow
Bird" to get in the way – and titles include "Steel Funk",
"Theme From Shaft", and "Trinidad & Tobago". Other
titles include an instrumental take on "Steel Funk",
"Brazil", "Street Cries", and "Cast Your Fate To The
Wind" – plus an LP bonus track of "J'Ouvert" from a 12"
single! ~ Dusty Groove